Complex's Sneaker of the Year debate is just getting started
Complex's mid-year Sneaker of the Year list is out, and the debate is very much alive. Readers have been voting and re-ranking the list, and their picks haven’t always matched what the editors said. With the second half of 2026 underway and with major drops still on the calendar, nothing is settled. So we're putting it to you directly: what do you think takes Sneaker of the Year in 2026 so far?
What the Editors Said
Complex's editors locked in their mid-year top 3:
- #1: Nigel Sylvester x Air Jordan 4 “Brick After Brick” — the campaign, the community response, the design. Editors called it the one to beat.
- #2: V.A.A. x Air Jordan 1 “Alaska” — Virgil Abloh's legacy, reimagined, in a release loaded with meaning and executed with care.
- #3: Nigo x Nike Air Force 1 Low — a collab years in the making. Niche and nerdy, but built to age beautifully.
That's the editorial verdict, at least for now.
What Readers Said
The community saw it differently. When readers re-ranked the list, V.A.A. x Air Jordan 1 'Alaska' jumped to #1, bumping Nigel Sylvester's AJ4 down to #3. Here's where the community pushed back hardest:
- Most disputed pick: Travis Scott x AJ1 Low 'Shy Pink' landed at #5, but 46% of readers called it overrated. The hype didn't land for a big chunk of the community.
- Most underrated pick: Nike Kobe 3 'Warning Label' sat at #13 while 23% of readers argued it deserved way more credit.
- Most overrated: 74% of readers said Kith x Messi x Adidas Megaride was ranked too high. That's not a split decision. That's a verdict.
The Second Half Could Change Everything
2026 isn't over. The “Space Jam“ Air Jordan 11 and the “Bred” Air Jordan 4 are still on the calendar, along with other major releases yet to drop. Any one of them could shift the conversation before year-end voting closes; the sneaker calendar has a habit of saving its biggest moments for last. The race is wide open.
So, what do you think will be the best sneaker of 2026? Nigel Sylvester's back-to-back bid? Virgil's legacy living on through V.A.A.? A second-half drop nobody's seen yet? Cast your vote above and make your case in the comments.
